Masters Degrees (Logistics)

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Allocating commodity volumes in the citrus export cold chain: A case for the Port of Durban
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-03) Darley-Waddilove, Joshua Ian; Goedhals-Gerber, Leila Louise; Thiart, Jeanette; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this study, the feasibility of using “forced” allocation as a mechanism to aide in alleviating capacity challenges at the Port of Durban is explored and insights on the impact of reallocation to the citrus export cold chain is provided. The use of the mechanism is explored by limiting the allowable citrus throughput that may be handled at the Port of Durban for varying through put scenarios, and using allocation techniques to allocate the allowable citrus throughput amongst the competing production regions. An allocation model framework is formulated to optimally allocate the total citrus export volumes in a season to each of the South African ports that export citrus, taking into account the allowable port throughput constraint at the Port of Durban. The allocation model framework is modelled as a minimum cost transport problem and is solved using linear programming. The results of the 2019 actual export season for citrus exports is compared to the results of the 2019 forecasted export season to determine if there is a single suitable allocation technique that can be used to allocate the allowable port throughput to the production regions in the allocation model framework for future export seasons. The results show that there is no single suitable allocation technique, and so allocations on forecasted citrus export volumes must be done on a case-by-case basis. A possible export plan for the 2021 forecasted export season is calculated using the allocation model framework for each scenario to provide a baseline export plan for the different allowable throughput scenario’s at the Port of Durban. The forecasted citrus export volumes are forecasted using a four period double moving average forecasting model. The feasibility of using “forced” allocation as mechanism to alleviate capacity challenges faced at the Port of Durban is assessed on two criteria, namely the availability of theoretical excess capacity at the alternate ports to handle the citrus volumes reallocated and the change in total transport cost to the citrus export cold chain. The assessment of the criteria, and the analysis of the results, indicate that the use of “forced” allocation is feasible in the majority of, but not in all of the port throughput scenarios. Even though it is feasible in terms of the available capacity, there is, however, an increased transport cost to the citrus export cold chain in the majority of the scenario’s analysed. This additional transport cost must be weighed up against the cost of congestion and lost time, and will have to be absorbed by the citrus export cold chain. Eventhough there is an increase in transport cost, which can affect the total citrus export cold chain by as much as +35.2% (in the worst case scenario), the mechanism is deemed feasible as the impact of the increased transport cost is a relative measure that will have a varying impact amongst the different stakeholders of the citrus export cold chain and so each stakeholder will have to decide independently if it is feasible to them. The study achieved its primary aim of alleviating capacity pressures at the Port of Durban by reallocating citrus volumes to all South African ports that can handle citrus under different levels of available capacity at the Port of Durban. Therefore, “forced” allocation is deemed a good alternative solution to the current congested situation.
An analysis of temperature breaks in the summer fruit export cold chain from pack house to vessel
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013-12) Haasbroek, Laura Marchand; Goedhals-Gerber, Leila Louise; Van Dyk, Frances Elizabeth; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There is great concern in the fruit industry that too much fruit and money is lost each year due to breaks occurring in the export cold chain of fresh fruit. Therefore, the CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) and Stellenbosch University were approached to do research on this problem. This particular study focuses on the cold chains of table grapes, summer pears and plums as these fruit are especially sensitive to temperature. Observations were made on fruit farms, in pack houses, in cold stores as well as in the Port of Cape Town. From these observations it was clear that protocols are not always followed and fruit quality is sometimes neglected because of pressure to speed up the exporting process. In order to analyse the export cold chains of these fruit types, temperature trials were conducted and temperature data received from exporting companies was analysed. The data was analysed from the cold store up to the point where the vessel sailed out of the Port of Cape Town. From the analysis it became clear that too many cold chain breaks occur during fruit exports from South Africa, especially during the loading of containers at cold stores. As a final output to the study, a good cold chain practice guide for the export of table grapes was developed with the aim of assisting the fruit industry in minimizing these cold chain breaks. The guide was developed with simplicity to ensure easy understanding under all role-players in the industry. This study was a small step in the right direction, but it should be highlighted that the complexity of the problems in the fruit cold chains are substantial and further research will have to be done in order to eliminate the occurrence of these cold chain breaks.
Assessing the need for a dry port to alleviate congestion surrounding the Port of Durban : a citrus case
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2024-03) Mkhabele, Nkensani Keneth; Krygsman, Stephanus Christiaan; Goedhals-Gerber, Leila Louise; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics.
ENGLISH SUMMARY: Port congestion poses a critical challenge to the efficient export of citrus fruits, thus impacting global trade and supply chain resilience within the industry. This research investigates the multifaceted dimensions of port congestion at the port of Durban within the context of the South African citrus industry. The primary objective is to evaluate the feasibility and potential benefits of establishing a dry port as a strategic intervention to mitigate existing logistical challenges faced at the port with the aim of providing a framework that aids in facilitating more efficient international trade. While employing a pragmatic mixed-method approach, the study analyses the implications of port congestion on key stakeholders, including shipping companies, industry associations, and regulatory bodies. The research encompasses a literature review, providing insights into global dry port management strategies, the role of dry ports, the importance of international trade, the citrus industry in South Africa as well as broader topics that fuel the readers’ understanding of the research. Through an analysis of primary data, including interviews with 17 industry experts and stakeholders, the study uncovers the specific challenges faced by the citrus industry in navigating port congestion, affecting export schedules, quality control, and market competitiveness. Data from the Ports Regulator of South Africa provides the quantitative data utilised within the study. The research findings highlight the need for strategic interventions, leading to a series of recommendations aimed at enhancing railway capacity and fostering government investment in port infrastructure. The exploration of long-term Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and the adoption of development-attracting methods, such as Special Economic Zones (SEZs), emerge as additional recommended strategies for mitigating congestion-related disruptions and avoiding future bottlenecks. This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by illustrating how the strategic establishment of a dry port can address logistical challenges and stimulate economic growth within the perishable domain. The implications extend beyond congestion relief, encompassing economic stimulation, job creation, and a repositioning of South Africa favourably within global trade networks. The study highlights the necessity for ongoing research into the optimal location, design, and governance of dry ports within South Africa. Lastly, this research provides a practical framework for addressing operational inefficiencies in the citrus supply chain, emphasising the potential transformative impact of a dry port on trade dynamics and economic development for the Republic of South Africa.
A comparison of container airflow technologies to improve temperature control along the table grape export supply chain : a South Africa to Netherlands case
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2023-03) Nel, Margot; Goedhals-Gerber, Leila Louise; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics.
ENGLISH SUMMARY: The South African table grape industry is significant as it plays a major role in terms of the economy and the growth of the country. It is, therefore, essential to maintain the high level of exports from South Africa and ensure that the quality of table grapes is maintained. Temperature management is the first step to ensure that the fruits reach the end consumer in the optimal condition. Failure in managing the table grape export cold chain can have a significant impact on the farmers and distributers as quality issues ultimately lead to dissatisfied customers and major financial losses. The main purpose of this research was to visualise and compare the temperature profiles of two table grape shipments, each with two containers equipped with different airflow technologies and one control container, from South Africa to the Netherlands. The research questions are centred around the number of container temperature breaks, how often they occur, the duration of these container temperature breaks and which of the two technologies or the control container maintained the most optimal temperature within the containers. A deductive approach to theory development was applied. Quantitative data was gathered by temperature sensors placed within these different containers, and qualitative data was gathered by semi-structured interviews with industry experts and observations at the cold store in South Africa. The data was visualised to illustrate the number and duration of temperature breaks and the data distribution to interpret the median values and interquartile ranges across the two shipments, the various technologies and the different sensor and pallet positions within all containers along the stages of the export cold chain. Problematic areas were identified along the export cold chain through the temperature profiles of the various containers. Many temperature breaches, light breaks and humidity breaks were discovered. The control containers experienced higher temperatures, more temperature breaks, longer temperature break durations and delivered overall worse quality table grapes than the containers equipped with the airflow technologies. Therefore, the technologies played some role in maintaining the ideal temperatures. The containers fitted with Technology 2 outperformed the containers equipped with Technology 1. This study fulfils the aim of the investigation prompted by Company X. It provides insights pertaining to the table grape cold chain for role players to identify where temperature breaks occur more frequently and which benchmark activities and airflow technologies can be applied to limit product quality losses and, therefore, limit financial losses.
Determining the viability of apple transportation without refrigeration in a domestic supply chain : a case study
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2024-03) Waldek, Alex Vernon; Goedhals-Gerber, Leila Louise; Freiboth, Heinrich Wilhelm; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics.
ENGLISH SUMMARY: There is a growing concern in South African cold chains linked to the ever-increasing cost of domestic distribution. Several logistics cost components, such as rising vehicle operating costs due to the increase in fuel price, have forced local cold chains to explore innovative transportation solutions to reduce the financial impact of these external pressures. The concern was so significant that Company X, a pome fruit distributor, prompted an investigation into the reduction of refrigerated transport expenditure in the apple supply chain. The study sought to investigate whether domestic apple transportation without refrigeration is a viable option in South Africa. The objective was to compare the ability of refrigerated and non-refrigerated trucks to maintain an acceptable ambient temperature. Should pulp temperatures be able to meet quality control standards without refrigeration, then non refrigerated truck alternatives could be a viable option to reduce Company X’s road freight expenditure. Primary quantitative data was collected through temperature trials that were conducted over the distribution route between the packhouse in the Western Cape and the cold storage facility in Gauteng. The trials took place over the months June to October in 2021 using temperature monitoring devices placed on both the internal and external body of the truck. Secondary quantitative data was gathered by collecting data from similar trials conducted over the same route in 2019, classifying the research as a longitudinal study. Historical weather data from the National Weather Service in conjunction with geospatial tracking reports received from transporters allowed the research to determine the weather conditions per truck location. The study measured the level of resistance of three different truck alternatives, namely: cooled refrigerated, uncooled refrigerated and tautliner. This was done by calculating the difference in external and internal temperatures recorded along the route. In addition, pulp measurements were analyzed upon arrival at the cold storage facility to determine whether or not internal Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) were met. The research provided key insights into the durability of apples in the presence of unfavourable conditions. Despite the increase in internal truck temperatures associated with low levels of truck insulation, internal pulp KPIs were able to be met using non-refrigerated transport alternatives. The study proved that non-refrigerated transportation should be considered as a viable option in local apple cold chains. This strategy has the potential to reduce both transportation costs and carbon emissions within the supply chain.
Development of a monitoring and evaluation framework for the sustainability assessment of road freight transport systems in South Africa
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-03) Lalendle, Chumasande; Goedhals-Gerber, Leila Louise; Van Eeden, Joubert; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Partial national lockdowns implemented globally, including in South Africa, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, significantly impacted the movement of goods, services and people with a dire negative effect on global economies. This has reignited the need for sustainable, resilient, and secure transportation services to meet the basic human needs into the future, post the pandemic. The importance of the freight industry cannot be disputed given the fact that the transportation of essential supply products and services were allowed to continue amid closure of borders and many industries. Global freight volumes continue to rise and the advancement of megatrends such as globalisation, population growth digitalization, demographic changes and rapid industrialisation are among the primary causes of this phenomenon. However, increased industrial activities and the need for transportation services, negatively impact the functioning of major transport and logistics systems. Moreover, over-reliance on road freight transportation systems (RFTS) over alternative modes of transport puts a strain on the RFTS. Hence, the need to develop a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) sustainability assessment framework to estimate and understand the impact of RFTS on the environment, economy and social aspects of people and their livelihoods. The study utilised a mixed-method approach guided by a three-stage process. Firstly, a systematic literature review was conducted to understand realities based on the objectives of the study. Secondly, the development of an inventory bank was completed to solicit Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to be used in the M&E framework, and lastly, findings from the first and second steps were utilised to develop the final M&E sustainability assessment framework. Results revealed that there are limited resources with frameworks that target all three dimensions of the triple bottom line in the assessment of RFTS. Furthermore, among the existing frameworks, fewer are developed to assess the sustainability of RFTS inthe South African context. Given these findings, an M&E framework that focuses on the holistic sustainability of RFTS in South Africa is recommended. The study makes an original contribution in terms of developing an M&E framework that addresses sustainability challenges in South African RFTS. This affords organisations a tool for tracking inputs towards system sustainability, annual sustainability status, system changes, progress, and decline of sustainability in the RFTS.
The effect of the introduction of a container barge system on the carbon footprint of the Port of Durban : a citrus industry case
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2023-03) Burgstahler, Micah; Goedhals-Gerber, Leila Louise; Human, Daniel Benjamin Verwoerd; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics.
ENGLISH SUMMARY: Road congestion in and around the Port of Durban has been an ongoing issue that significantly affects cargo movements and negatively impacts most port users. A potential solution that could help in alleviating some of this road congestion, is the introduction of a container handling barge system in the Port of Durban. In this system, a portion of the container road traffic can be moved to and from port areas with heavy road congestion via barge. A consequence of road congestion in the Port of Durban is increased CO2e emissions caused by trucks. Introducing a container handling barge system can potentially also contribute to a significant decrease in CO2e emissions for the citrus industry in and around the Port of Durban, which is one of the most important ports for South Africa’s citrus industry. This research study has five main objectives. First, to understand the main sources of road congestion affecting the Port of Durban’s containerised traffic flows for citrus reefer containers between cold stores and container terminals. Second, to assess the opinions of the stakeholders that would be affected in and around the Port of Durban by the introduction of the barge system. Third, to quantify the number of citrus reefer containers to be transported by the barge system. Fourth, to understand how citrus makes its way through the Port of Durban currently, and how that would change if the barge system is implemented. Lastly, to quantify the potential savings in CO2e emissions per citrus reefer, as a result of the barge system. For the researcher to achieve these objectives, a stakeholder analysis was conducted to assist the researcher in identifying stakeholders involved in and affected by this study. After stakeholders were identified, their relationship to the objectives of this study were analysed, and engagement strategies were developed. This research was conducted in the form of an exploratory case study with a cross-sectional time horizon. The primary data used in this study was collected via interviews and questionnaires, while the secondary data used in this study was collected via a very experienced fruit industry expert. A deductive approach was used for the theory development of this research. The collected primary and secondary data, as well as information catalogued in the literature review, were utilised in delivering results for this research. These research results enabled the researcher to draw conclusions and propose recommendations. The carbon footprint calculations in this study only involved the barge system’s changes in transport mode and additional transport legs and handling, compared to the current system.
Evaluating the performance of the citrus export cold chain to the United States of America : a case study
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2023-03-29) Dreyer, Mia; Goedhals-Gerber, Leila Louise; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics.
ENGLISH SUMMARY: South Africa (SA) is regarded as a top producer and exporter of citrus fruit, supplying high quality citrus to premium markets globally. The United States of America (USA) is supplied annually during the months of April to October with fresh South African citrus produce, namely soft citrus, oranges, grapefruit, lemons and limes, which conform with the international cold treatment regime for the USA. Most of the citrus fruit is distributed to the ports along the East Coast of the USA. The SA to USA citrus trade has shown significant growth and development over recent years in terms of containerised cold treatment citrus exports. However, the industry is concerned regarding the functionality and performance of the citrus export cold chain to the USA. Company M encouraged the research, which focused on evaluating the performance of the citrus export cold chain to the USA out of the Port of Cape Town. The focus of the research was directed on the South African component of the citrus export chain, namely from the cold storage phase until port of discharge (POD). The research attempted to identify and explore the challenges, vulnerabilities as well as opportunities in the citrus export chain. The research included in-depth expert interviews, electronic questionnaires as well as citrus export data covering the citrus exports to the USA over a ten-year period. Furthermore, secondary data, enhanced the research. From the analysis, it was apparent that the industry experienced significant growth in citrus exports, especially in that of soft citrus and easy peelers such as tangerines. While identifying the increased citrus exports, the data analysis highlighted that the chain is encountering several challenges such as co-operation from the port in terms of port functionality, road transportation reputation and cold store space capacity. These above-mentioned challenges affect the performance and functionality of the citrus export cold chain to the USA. Apart from these challenges, the impact thereof was researched, identifying delays in the export chain, further expenditure for stakeholders and a negative performance perception of the export chain. The results of the research revealed that the citrus export cold chain to the USA is performing adequately, however, has room for improvement to boost performance levels. While each phase highlighted concerns, the Port of Cape Town was stressed as the foremost concern in the exporting chain. Main findings highlighted poor port performance results, which included lacking port infrastructure and equipment, congestion, poor customer service and reliability, which negatively influence the citrus supply chain day-to-day operations. The research identified limited cold store space availability, transportation unreliability and cost as well shipping line equipment availability and expenditure as additional concerns.
Identifying temperature breaches and breaks in the export cold chain of fresh hake from Namibia (Walvis Bay) to Europe (Spain)
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2022-04) Neethling, Chelna; Goedhals-Gerber, Leila Louise; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics.
ENGLISH SUMMARY: Global fish consumption has doubled over the last 50 years, as people have recognised the health benefits of fish as an excellent source of protein. European countries have an enduring appetite for fresh, high-quality fish. Hake is the preferred type of fish, as its flavour is not overwhelmingly fishy but rather very neutral. The Namibian fishing industry is changing and diversifying. It is currently the fifth largest revenue earner and employment generator in the country. Companies in Namibia identified a gap in the market for the export of fresh hake to Europe. The Namibian fishing industry has experienced a growing level of market-openness in international trade. However, the export of fresh hake is a risky and challenging venture because the fresh product is extremely temperature and time sensitive, perishable and dependent on maintaining optimal temperature throughout the export cold chain. Temperature breaches and breaks are occasionally unavoidable due to the fragmented cold chain, however, preventing temperature breaches and breaks would add to the efficiency and effectiveness of the export cold chain. Temperature breaches and breaks could contribute to significant losses in revenue, as fish quality and shelf life have a direct impact on the market price. Temperature breaches and breaks reduce the shelf life and the quality of the fresh fish, which could become compromised and unfit for human consumption. This study follows a deductive, mixed methods approach. This study identified the when, where, and why temperature breaches and breaks occurred, through interviews, observations, and temperature trials. The export cold chain of fresh hake to Europe was documented and illustrated. Several temperature breaches and breaks were identified. This study determined that most of the temperature breaches and breaks occurred in the first leg of the export cold chain and concluded that some were unavoidable, and some were avoidable. The avoidable temperature breaches and breaks can be resolved. Recommendations were made to solve the problems and streamline the export cold chain. Preventing temperature breaches and breaks in the export cold chain would extend the shelf life and maintain the quality of the fresh product. This study adds to current knowledge and assists companies with international trade and improving competitiveness.
Identifying temperature breaks in pome fruit and table grape export cold chains from South Africa to the United Kingdom and the Netherlands : a Western Cape case
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-12) Fedeli, Savia; Goedhals-Gerber, Leila Louise; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics. Logistics.
ENGLISH SUMMARY : There is a growing concern in the South African fruit industry of increasing losses, both financially and of the produce itself, as a result of temperature breaks in the export cold chain. This concern was so significant that an investigative enquiry was prompted by Company X, a prominent fruit exporter, into the origins of temperature breaks within their export cold chains of apples, pears and table grapes from the Western Cape, South Africa to The Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Two rounds of observations were conducted. Firstly, in South Africa at the farms, pack houses, cold stores and Cape Town Container Terminal. Secondly, in Europe at the Port of Rotterdam and the first European cold store. Further analysis was done through the temperature trials conducted from February to July 2018. This enabled a deductive, mixed methods research approach where the qualitative data aided the understanding of the quantitative data. The data analysed began from the pack houses in South Africa and concluded at the first distribution centre within the country of import. The analysis of the data collected highlighted and confirmed suspected areas prone to temperature breaks as well as identified new, unsuspected areas. Three chief problem areas of the South Africa leg, across all three fruit kinds, were identified. These include the pack house and cold store, in and around the gate-in point of the container at port and just prior to the vessels Actual Time of Departure (ATD). A further three problem areas were identified in the pome fruit trials only. These included just after Actual Time of Arrival (ATA) of the vessel, during the barge stage and at the point where the container was destuffed. The impacts of the unsuspected heat gained, especially by the pome fruit, in the initial stages of the cold chains were shown to have far reaching and long-lasting, detrimental effects for entire pallets and thus, ultimately the entire containers. A further key insight gained was the importance of fruit respiration rates and its relationship with temperature. The research provided key insights into identifying weak links within the export cold chains of deciduous fruit. The results of the research demonstrated this with the number of temperature breaks, their frequency and durations recorded within certain stages as well as detrimental effects on the quality of the fruit. Company X can use the findings of the research to adjust current practices to prevent temperature breaks from occurring in future and diminish the quality of the final product. Furthermore, with the insights of Company X, the efficiency of the entire export cold chain as a whole could be improved. This increase in efficiency could lead to possible financial incentives such as cost savings, environmental savings such as cooling efficiency and reduction in food waste as well as even possibly a higher quality end product with a longer shelf life.
Identifying temperature breaks in the export cold chain of navel oranges : a Western Cape case
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-03) Khumalo, Gculisile; Goedhals-Gerber, Leila Louise; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics. Logistics.
ENGLISH SUMMARY : The South African citrus industry contributes significantly to the exportation of fresh fruit annually. South Africa is among the top-ten citrus producing countries in the world and it is the second largest exporter after Spain. There is growing concern in the citrus industry that there are significant breaks in the temperature profiles of the export cold chain of navel oranges to the United States of America. In the citrus export cold chain, one of the most critical functions is to ensure that the quality and conditions of fruit are optimised. Each stage in the cold chain must be conducted reliably and efficiently to reduce the risk of economic losses. The critical factors of the export cold chain that the study explored are temperature protocols and fruit quality as high risks are attached to inefficiencies due to temperature breaks. The United States of America is a steri-market, meaning that navel oranges have to be exported at sub-zero temperatures for phytosanitary purposes. This procedure is known as cold sterilisation treatment. Cold sterilisation treatment commences from the time the fruit consignment has been loaded onto conventional vessels and compartments closed, with all three major temperature probes reading -0.6°C until the port of destination. Steri-market protocols require that fruit be shipped at -0.6°C for a period of 22 days. Steri-markets make use of cold sterilisation treatment to ensure that pests and diseases are not imported along with fruits that arrive at their ports. Observations were made at fruit farms, pack houses, cold stores and the Port of Cape Town. The observations made clearly depicted that export cold chain protocols are to a large extent followed. To analyse the pulp and ambient temperature of navel oranges, temperature trials were conducted and data received from export organisations was analysed. The data was analysed from the point of harvest (orchard) until the port of destination. From the analysis conducted, it was clear that export cold chain processes were followed, thus, reducing the risks of temperature breaks, which in the cold sterilisation export industry translate to significant income losses due to the rejection of an exported consignment of fruit. The study was undertaken by Stellenbosch University in conjunction with Company X to help redress the issue of breaks in the export cold chain and improve their fruit quality. The study proved to be a step in the right direction, but it should be noted that further research still needs to be conducted on the export cold chain of fruit under cold sterilisation treatment, as the low temperatures are known to be detrimental to fruit quality, as they tend to cause chilling injury.
Identifying temperature breaks in the initial stages of the cold chain for Clementines and Navel oranges : a Western Cape case
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-12) Conradie, Christoff Anton; Goedhals-Gerber, Leila Louise; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics. Logistics.
ENGLISH SUMMARY : South Africa is the second largest exporter of citrus fruits in the world, with only Spain exporting higher volumes. It is the country’s third most exported horticultural product after deciduous fruits and vegetables. It is a growing industry, not only globally, but in South Africa as well. However, the industry, including the Citrusdal region, is concerned that South Africa loses a considerable amount of fresh fruit each year as a result of breaks in the cold chain. Citrus exports from Citrusdal to the USA are susceptible to temperature breaks because exporters predominantly use conventional vessels to ship the fruit and, therefore, the cold chain consists of various role players. Company J proposed this study, which was a case approach that attempted to identify the prominence, location and causes of temperature breaks along the initial stages of the export cold chain of Clementines and Navel oranges from Citrusdal in the Western Cape of South Africa to the Port of Newark in New Jersey, USA. The study then attempted to provide solutions to the problems that caused the temperature breaks. A power analysis determined a sample size of 144 temperature devices, distributed over two cultivars. Thus, the researcher determined, by means of judgement sampling (mainly influenced by seasonality and availability), to conduct the research on Clementines and Navel oranges. After collecting the data, the researcher combined each individual device’s temperature data into a single Excel file per consignment (there were four consignments in total), after which the researcher utilised Tableau® to construct time-series line graphs and box-and-whisker plots that visually depicted individual temperature breaks during the export cold chain. Furthermore, the researcher used Excel’s “tables” function to construct tables of dispersion that illustrated the severity of the temperature breaks. The data analysis identified temperature spikes and temperature breaks in each segment of the export chain and discovered that the farm segment significantly outperformed the post-farm segment. There were consistent temperature breaks / temperature spikes during the transportation segment, inspection segment during the cold storage stage, and switchover to Steri during the cold storage stage. The findings indicated that the industry’s concern regarding fruit loss, as a result of temperature breaks, is grounded and that temperature breaks are prominent during the export cold chains of Clementines and Navel oranges from Citrusdal to the Port of Newark. In an increasingly competitive global citrus market, it is important for producers in the Citrusdal region to address the issues that the study identified, in order to remain competitive and continue producing the high-quality citrus for which the region is known. The recommendations chapter provides possible solutions to the problems that the study identified and emphasises that avoidable temperature breaks should be eliminated, and unavoidable temperature breaks should be minimised.
The impact of the moratorium on the regulation governing vehicle height restriction : a South African high cube container case
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-03) Adams, Tiffany Michelle; Goedhals-Gerber, Leila Louise; Van Eeden, Joubert; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics. Logistics.
ENGLISH SUMMARY : South Africa’s export industry is reliant on deep-sea shipping. Over the past twenty years, there has been a shift in the global shipping industry, resulting in a move away from the standard general purpose and refrigerated 12-metre container to high cube containers that have an external height of 2.896-metres. Subsequently, there has been an increase in the number of container shipments worldwide and South Africa has joined this contagion. The majority of the fruit that is cultivated in South Africa is exported to international markets via refrigerated containers and more specifically the 40-foot high cube container. Regulation 224 (b) of the National Road Traffic Act of 1996 legislates that the maximum legal height limit for vehicles without an abnormal permit in South Africa is 4.3-metres. The regulations provide that any vehicle, other than double-deck busses, may not exceed an overall height limit, including load projections of 4.3-metres. Since 2009, there has been an increase in the number of high cube containers in use. With a 2.9-metre container on a flat deck trailer standing at 1.60-metre deck height, it results in an overall height of 4.5 metres, thus exceeding the legislative limit of 4.3-metres. In 2009, the Road Traffic Inspectors in KwaZulu-Natal identified that High Cube ISO Containers, being transported on a normal road transport trailer, exceeded the legislated limit of 4.3m by approximately 0.2m to 0.3m. In 2011, a moratorium, which for a period of seven years, exempted the operation of a motor vehicle transporting an ISO container from complying with the provision of regulation 224 (b) was implemented. The main research objectives of this study are as follows; firstly, to research and understand the process of impact analysis in freight regulation by providing an understanding of the extent of the impact and to research the stakeholder analysis process and provide an overview of the stakeholders. Secondly, to identify the consequences that the various industries will encounter if the legislation is not amended by determining whether there will be an effect on industry’s productivity and on the efficiency of operations within industry. Thirdly, to identify what international best practices could be implemented to ensure road users’ safety and increase the growth of the economy. Lastly, to gather the necessary data, analyse the data, and provide a conclusion on the likely impact should the legislation not be amended. The study was explorative in nature and a purposive form of non-probability sampling was used to select the sample units. Two hundred and forty-seven (247) stakeholders were included in the sample, but the response rate was 77 stakeholders. The researcher contacted the stakeholders via telephone, email and by sending out a survey to obtain more insight into the moratorium and the regulation governing vehicle height restriction. The researcher used the internet to investigate websites, annual reports, academic publications and articles. After collecting the data, the researcher combined the individual responses into the stakeholder groups in Excel, after which, the researcher analysed the data using the AHP method to conduct an impact analysis on the findings. The AHP method allowed the researcher to determine a score of how ‘valuable’ the choices are and how the decision maker ‘feels’ about the choices. The researcher identified two impacts, namely: a financial impact and a transportation risk. The data analysis identified that there would be a negative financial impact on the South African economy if the regulation remains under the status quo. Many of the stakeholders are concerned about the financial impact and the preferred height choice of between 4.3m and 4.6m as many transporters are operating at a height of 4.5m. South Africa’s government needs to consider the views of all stakeholders involved in the regulation governing vehicle height restriction and the transportation of high cube containers. The main findings of the study have concluded that there is a greater financial impact on the economy. Although, government has stated its claims, there have not been any recorded accidents or incidents related to the height of high cube containers.
Investigating quality issues after the introduction of humidifiers into table grape pack houses : a Northern Cape case
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-03) Kisten, Chloe; Goedhals-Gerber, Leila Louise
ENGLISH SUMMARY : Introduction & Background to study: South Africa is the third largest producer of table grapes in the southern hemisphere following Chile and Peru respectively. Deciduous fruits and vegetables are South Africa’s second most exported horticultural products. Table grapes form part of this export category. Post-harvest physiological disorders such as brown stems, decay and other quality defects have a negative impact on the quality of table grapes exported from South Africa. Within the agricultural sector of South Africa, the table grape industry has drawn major attention over the past few years as the demand for table grapes has increased considerably. However, Company Y has identified many quality issues as a cause for concern. Purpose & problem definition / main research question Objectives: While conducting investigations along the supply chain, other industry market players have found that the implementation of a certain type of humidifier into pack houses decreases the number of quality issues faced by table grapes. Company Y implemented this humidifier system into one of their pack houses and did not install this system in the other six pack houses that data was collected from. The purpose of this study was to determine whether an investment in this humidifier system is justified, if proven to decrease quality problems for the table grapes distributed. Methodology (scope declared): Relative humidity, ambient temperature and quality control data was collected over a period of three table grape seasons, namely November 2015 to February 2018. The data collected from Farm 1’s pack house, which had the humidifier system installed, was compared to six other pack houses and against the data from Farm 1’s pack house prior to the system being installed. Quality control messages were collected at the port of destination, which were linked back to the pack location (farms) where the grapes were harvested. Main findings: The results from the statistical data analysis revealed that there is a significant relationship between the pack house with the humidifier system installed and the ambient temperature, causing fewer quality control messages to be detected. Other analysis and results supported the fact that fewer quality control messages were identified at Farm 1’s pack house after the installation of the humidifier than any of the other pack houses. The results show that Farm 1 experienced the least number of quality problems. Results also revealed that higher levels of humidity and lower temperatures were maintained at Farm 1’s pack house after the installation of the humidifier than any of the other six pack houses. Main Conclusions: This research finds that the installation of the humidifier system provides positive results whereby fewer quality issues are experienced and recommends investing in the system across multiple table grape pack houses. The installation of the humidification system can be implemented as a standalone source of improvement for the quality of table grapes harvested. Furthermore, this study recommends tighter control of the cold chain within the pack house, which could reveal stronger results in future studies.
An investigation into table grape risk factors that affect quality along the export supply chain
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2022-12) Rossouw, Christopher Guillaume; Goedhals-Gerber, Leila Louise; Mantadelis, Theofrastos; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics.
ENGLISH SUMMARY: Table grapes are a highly perishable product, where a large proportion of grapes produced for export to Europe arrive in a substandard condition. Fruit in this condition requires repacking to remove the rotten food parts, or in extreme cases, the entire shipment is dumped resulting in a total loss. Both outcomes’ result in a potential loss of income for stakeholders and food waste, which could be avoided if proper upstream intervention had been taken. This ongoing occurrence prompted the investigation into what the factors are that cause the poor arrival quality of table grapes. The study also applied machine learning techniques to predict the probable arrival scores (green, amber, and red) based on input variables gathered throughout the supply chain. The data analysed was obtained from five diverse secondary sources consisting of intake quality shed reports, arrival quality reports, logistical nominal data, recorder temperature data, and climate data. The eventual dataset consisted of 467 observations. The analysis process applied consisted of descriptive and inferential statistics to explain the relationship between the upstream variables and the downstream resultant quality scores as well as how the upstream variables interact with one another. The results from the preliminary analysis aided in feature selection for the model building process. Four classification models, consisting of Logistic Regression, k-Nearest Neighbours, Decision Trees, and Random Forests (RF), were trained, and evaluated. The RF classifier demonstrated the best cross-validation score on the training data and was retained for further evaluation. The RF classifier’s accuracy score was 0.63 for the unseen test set and performed best when predicting red class-labels but struggled on green and performed worst for amber class predictions. Variables that had the largest impact on the arrival quality scores consisted of the climactic variables two weeks prior to harvest, the specific variety and ˚Brix at harvest, the number of decayed berries found in the packhouse as well as the overall packhouse quality score, and the type of packaging used (either punnets or loose pack). The effect of the supply chain was also evaluated but did not have any effect for the 2020 season. The attributes of poor quality were also identified in relation to the most important variables, so that upstream mitigation strategies could be determined to reduce financial claims and food waste. The potential upside of accurate arrival quality predictions prior to shipping would allow for improved allocation decisions leading to profit maximisation through loss reduction and cost savings. From an environmental perspective, assured sound arrival quality would reduce end of chain food waste and would increase product shelf life for consumers.
Overcoming the logistical challenges faced by the South African table grape phytosanitary cold treatment markets: A case study focusing on the Hex River and Berg River production areas
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-12) Pienaar, Marthinus Christiaan; Goedhals-Gerber, Leila Louise; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics.
ENGLISH SUMMARY : New phytosanitary cold treatment markets are opening and established markets are transforming to cold treatment markets. This poses a risk to the South African table grape industry, which is losing excessive amounts of money each year because of not complying with each market protocol. With the risks of markets closing, demand not being supplied on time and the preferred fruit quality not being achieved, it is crucial to research and propose potential solutions regarding the supply chain of the special cold treatment markets to preserve current and future markets. A standardised method must be implemented for the producers and exporters from the Hex River and Berg River production areas. This method must be more cost-effective, have shorter lead times from harvesting to supplying the customer and optimum cold chain management must be applied to eliminate temperature breaks. A mixed method approach was used to conduct the research. Secondary qualitative data was the first form of data gathered for the research through a review of current literature. Primary qualitative data in the form of interviews and observations were used to aid the understanding of the quantitative data and answer the research questions. A self-administered questionnaire was sent to 31 role players in the table grape special cold treatment markets to determine the knowledge of the industry regarding exporting to these markets. The quantitative data source used was the insertion of 98 temperature monitoring devices into 24 pallets, divided into three concepts and eight trials. The research identified methods that could be used to limit the logistical challenges faced in the Hex River and Berg River production areas, achieve shorter lead times and ensure optimum cold chain management. The results showed that temperature breaks do occur from the packing stage until the fruit is loaded into the containers. The temperature breaks measured from the packing stage until the forced-air cooling stage are normal as the fruit is cooled down from packing. The temperature breaks measured from the last part of the forced-air cooling stage until the shipping stage were caused by mismanagement of the cold chain. Pallets were removed from forced-air cooling when the fruit was not cooled to the desired temperatures throughout the palletised pallet and in some cases the fruit was exposed to low temperatures of -1.5 °C for too long, causing fruit pulp temperatures of -1.5 °C and below. This research benefits the South African table grape industry by identifying the logistical challenges faced in the Hex River and Berg River production areas, identifying methods to reduce these challenges and ensuring that sound logistical practices are implemented. Delivering the product from the farm to the consumer in the shortest time, at the lowest cost, in the best possible condition and maintaining cold chain integrity intact at all times.
Risk profile of port congestion : Cape Town container terminal case study
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-03) Potgieter, Lilian; Goedhals-Gerber, Leila Louise; Havenga, Jan Hendrik; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics. Logistics.
ENGLISH SUMMARY : Supply chains, both complex and simple, are often exposed to various levels of risk stemming from different sources. These risks, whether minor or critical, require a certain level of management to mitigate and control frequency and overall impact. The South African maritime industry suffers from a number of risks, with the most prominent source of risk stemming from vessel and vehicle congestion within port terminals. In most cases, this is due to a lack of port capacity, lack of operator productivity, severe weather conditions and/or system-related challenges. In South Africa, one of the most important ports – the Port of Cape Town – faces two risks associated with port congestion, namely, severe weather and system delays. These two risks place pressure on port management and can cause inefficiencies in both port operations and the operations of international shipping companies. This study focuses on developing risk profiles of current and future port congestion within the Cape Town Container Terminal, with the primary objective being to highlight the importance of managing weather- and system-related port congestion within the container terminal. The secondary objective of the study is to suggest areas for future research on port congestion in other South African ports. Overall, the purpose of this study is to offer some insight into port congestion as a risk to efficiency for the benefit of both South African ports and international shipping companies. The research conducted for this study was done in two phases, namely, exploratory secondary research followed by self-conducted primary research. The secondary literature research provided background information on the maritime industry, the Port of Cape Town, and port congestion in the World and in South Africa specifically. In addition, the primary data collected was used to analyse current port congestion within the container terminal, create forecasts of future congestion, and finally develop risk profiles of port congestion within the Cape Town Container Terminal specifically. The findings of this study indicate that vessel related congestion, specifically anchorage congestion, is the main risk within the Cape Town Container Terminal, while landside port congestion is likely to become a less severe risk over time. This is, however, likely to be influenced by truck queuing time and the 2015 truck ban, which were not included in this study. The findings of this study indicate that maritime-side risk is of greater concern, and that risk mitigation strategies should be considered in the present and the future. In conclusion, it is recommended that further research be conducted on the cost implications of port congestion, to determine the need for long-term financial investments, and on the impact of vehicle queuing and the proposed truck ban. Furthermore, it is suggested that a similar study be conducted on port congestion within the Durban Port container terminal, as research indicates that this terminal is also prone to port congestion issues.
The supply chain of relief materials: a guideline for container ports in Sub-Saharan Africa
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-12) Osundiran, Oluwatoyin Adeola; Goedhals-Gerber, Leila Louise; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Science. Dept. of Logistics.
ENGLISH SUMMARY : In a world of growing crisis, both natural and political, the operation of humanitarian organizations, which provide relief to critically affected communities, have become increasingly significant. With the increased relevance of disaster relief and development programs on a global scale, more and more research is being conducted to improve the efficiency of humanitarian logistics around the world. Disasters can wipe out decades of progress and development in just a few seconds. The impact in terms of both death and economic losses is increasing substantially. In 2008, for Sub-Saharan Africa, the death toll from natural disasters trebled to 235 000 from an annual average of 66 000 over the period of 2000–2007. The increase in the spate of disasters in Sub-Saharan Africa continues to generate interest particularly in the supply chain of relief materials to the victims of disasters. However, little work has been done on humanitarian logistics in developing countries. This identifies the importance of conducting research on supply chain management specifically for the handling of relief materials in developing countries. Ports have a role to play in the supply chain of relief materials. Maritime transport is the most cost-effective mode of transporting the relief materials from the port of origin to the port of destination. Once the goods arrive at the local port of entry, there is a need for the goods to be cleared at the port of destination with as little effort as possible. Therefore, this thesis looks at ways of reducing the cargo dwell time at the ports, especially for relief cargoes that require expedition. The importance of this research lies in the development of a framework and guideline for the handling of disaster relief materials in Sub-Saharan African ports. This framework and guideline, if adopted, will help streamline the supply chain of relief materials, thereby saving costs for all the maritime stakeholders including shipping lines whose vessels will spend less time in ports. The guideline will streamline the processes and reduce cargo dwell time. It will also provide a forum for improving supply chain management through collaboration.
A temperature profile of the beginning stages of a blueberry supply chain
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-12) Steynberg, Daniël Petrus (Petré); Goedhals-Gerber, Leila Louise; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics.
ENGLISH SUMMARY : Due to the changing lifestyle choices of the modern-day consumer, the demand for blueberries has risen significantly in recent years. Exporters of blueberries are losing money linked to lower quality fruit arriving at their final destination. Studies have proven that various factors could play a role in the decrease in fruit quality, especially in the initial stages of a supply chain. These factors include the geographical location of the farms, different methods of loading, unloading and transportation on and from farms to the centralised cold storage facility, and the trade-off between the time of picking and fruit quality. The objective of this research was to identify whether the different logistics processes implemented, specifically in the beginning stages of the blueberry supply chain, have an influence on the quality of the fruit. Through mapping and tracking of the blueberry temperature profiles, the researcher was able to identify where temperature breaks occurred. Furthermore, the research determined whether the current logistics processes implemented by Company X are the most effective, and if not, what should be improved. The study followed a deductive research approach and utilised a case study research strategy. It used a mixed-method research approach by collecting quantitative and qualitative data. Semi-structured interviews, informal observations and questionnaires were used in the study. iButtons® were used on all the farms to record ambient temperatures experienced by blueberries throughout the beginning stages of the blueberry supply chain. Temperature trials were conducted on three farms in Gauteng and three farms in the Western Cape. Various temperature fluctuations were recorded during the beginning stages of the blueberry supply chain. This could have been avoided if protocols were followed more strictly. The lack of controlled humidity could also be a contributing factor to the loss of moisture identified in the quality reports. The long average time spent during the Harvest and Transportation stage was identified as something that needs to be improved upon. In addition, the insufficient pre-cooling and lack of separate refrigerated rooms in the cold rooms on the farms in the Western Cape were identified as an area of concern. Lastly, decreasing the number of temperature fluctuations during the Forced Cooling stage should be a priority. In conclusion, the research highlighted problem areas within the beginning stages of a blueberry supply chain. Furthermore, it identified the best performing candidates during each stage, which should be used as a benchmark by Company X. By minimizing the breach of protocols and improving the beginning stages of the blueberry supply chain, a better-quality product is ensured, thus, reducing costs and food wastage.
A toolkit for cold chain requirements for the physical distribution between South African retail distribution centres : a perishable food case
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2023-12) Sam, Caryn Lisa; Goedhals-Gerber, Leila Louise; Van Eeden, Joubert; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics.
ENGLISH SUMMARY: Food loss is of great concern globally as large quantities of food are lost on an annual basis. This is a growing concern for all countries, especially where developing countries like South Africa, are concerned. A third of the edible food available in South Africa is lost, which equates to an estimated 10.3 million tonnes of food per annum. The significant amount of food loss is alarming for South Africa when examined from an economic, social and environmental perspective. Food loss occurs at various stages of the value chain, with 20% occurring during distribution and retail, which motivated the need for this study. The main aim of this research was to develop a toolkit for cold chain requirements for the physical distribution between South African retail distribution centres, specifically for perishable food products. This toolkit was developed with the sole purpose of enlightening stakeholders within the retail supply chain and creating a sense of awareness around contributing factors to food loss within the cold chain. This is done by providing information and guidelines on cold chain requirements for perishable food products and is directed towards South African retail supply chains. This research followed a deductive approach and the methodological choice for this thesis included a mixed-method approach for data collection. This approach allows the researcher to gather data by integrating qualitative and quantitative data. The time horizon for this research was cross-sectional as it took place at a single point in time. The data collection methods consisted of primary and secondary data. Primary qualitative data were collected in the form of exploratory, semi-structured and validation interviews. In addition, this thesis used secondary qualitative data in the form of a stakeholder analysis and a systematic literature review and secondary quantitative data in the form of historical temperature data. The research successfully met all the research objectives by answering all the research questions and ultimately developing a toolkit. The toolkit provides guidelines that promote best practices within the cold chain to ensure that perishable food products reach consumers at optimal quality and reduce food loss within the supply chain. The toolkit serves as a resource that offers guidelines and insights into the cold chain requirements for perishable food items along with workable solutions to address commonly faced challenges in this segment of the supply chain. The toolkit was validated by industry experts to ensure the reliability and validity of the toolkit.

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